Shorty3735r
In the Brooder
I have a flock of 8 chickens that are 20 weeks tomorrow. My one remaining rooster (we started with 3) is a Buff Cochin which I love. The day we got rid of our other rooster he stepped up and started crowing and doing his rooster duties properly. The pullets love him, he shows them the food..its just a really good flock relationship I have right now. Compared to the rooster we got rid of, who was top rooster at the time and a tyrant who wouldn't let the flock out of the coop, we have a good thing here.
So here's the issue that JUST cropped up the end of this week. I have 2 sons, one is 7, one is 2 1/2. Both came to me at some point last week and told me Elvis flogged them.
Now I've told them both over and over and over not to aggravate the flock and they are pretty good about not doing it. I've also witnessed my older son chasing the flock. And chasing isn't quite the right word because they aren't running after them...but more like sneaking around and following them and of course the flock goes to get away. They aren't being completely left alone. So its like chasing but not chasing.
So I witnessed the flogging tonight and trust me I know it could be a lot worse. My oldest was sneaking around where they all were and Elvis kinda flew up with his feet up at my son (didn't really hurt him just alarmed him) then chased him up to where I was farther up in the yard. Not 2 minutes later my son walked back down that way and peeked around the corner at him, jumped, and took off up the yard again with the rooster chasing him. I gotta be honest it was the funniest darned thing I ever saw.
He will not flog me, nor my Mother, Husband, or Step-Dad so I know its due to the fact that my son is scared of him and he knows it. Also the fact that apparently he feels threatened by my son and knows he will run if chased. I have told my son this is basically brought on by himself and I had warned him over and over this could happen.
I figure since this just started there are probably steps we could take so this doesn't continue. I do have a 2 1/2 year old that is much smaller and should this happen to him it could be worse and could get his eyes. Of course my younger boy couldn't push Elvis away like my 7 year old can. Elvis is quite a big boy!
My thoughts are 1. Make sure the boys know to leave Elvis alone and not to chase nor aggravate him. 2. Help my son get to the point where he doesn't feel scared of Elvis anymore. Any suggestions with the second part? Right now the second the rooster catches the eye of my son he runs (my son...then depending on how close potentially the rooster). Its like reinforcing a bad thing with him running.
As it is my son is having a drama moment and wants me to get rid of the rooster which I refuse to do. /img/smilies/roll.png We plan on working with him and the rooster a little more and helping him to realize what a good guy we have for the girls.
Anyhow any experiences or thoughts would be appreciated. You know I hate being an I told you so but I warned him....
Discipline your son. Dont blame the rooster for doing his job whicj is to protect the flock and himself
